Josh Shear

Not quite a week after announcing the Josh's Beard project to help raise money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, we crossed the $100 mark.

That's a long way from my $25,000 goal, but it feels like a milestone. I had been ramping up the project for three weeks, and had been telling friends and family members about it, but talking about the vision is a lot different from getting it implemented.

There are two things I learned right away about getting people to give. The first is you have to make it easy. I managed to filter people to the photo/video blog, but people didn't get that you had to click the text that says "St. Baldrick's Foundation" on the right. That brings you to a page, and then you click donate from there.

So I added a big red "Donate Now" link in the upper right, which actually takes you to the page where you donate. Much easier.

The second is that people love this project. They will tell everybody about it, and in multiple channels. That doesn't mean they have the inclination – or ability – to give. So that's going to be the bigger challenge, I think.

I recorded a new video yesterday asking people to give $18 (it will go on the tumblelog tomorrow). It's the amount represented by the Hebrew word for life. And several people did give.

Another challenge I'm going to face is actually a positive one. I have friends who are going to do it as well. My friend Kim did the event last year; I don't know if she plans to do it again. My friends Lorelei and (another) Kim are also going bald in 2010. So, donations are going to be split. Which is OK with me. I wound up just giving at the event last year, since I had so many friends who were having their heads shaved I couldn't afford to give to everyone's.

What can you do to help?

Well, the obvious answer is donate. But spreading the word is important. I don't need page views or thumbs-up (though it's always nice to hear that what you're doing is appreciated); I need to get in front of eyes that will donate. Send people to JoshsBeard.tumblr.com; get them to be fans of the Facebook page (and become one yourself).

If you know business owners, authors, musicians, what have you – I'm totally willing to work out an "advertising exchange" – they make an agreed-upon minimum donation, I'll hold up a copy of their book or CD, or flyer, or mention their business in a video. Have them email me.

And of course, follow me on Twitter, I mention it a lot there, and there's always a link to that day's photo.